Shukado Newsletter No.19 "Byobu"

Hello everyone from Tokyo!!This is Ikuko, sending Shukado Newsletter vol.19

Tokyo, oh Tokyo, my delightful city!
Yes, I definitely love living and working here.
Have you ever been to Tokyo?

Today when I took a break for lunch I saw many overseas tourists
here in Ginza, Tokyo. Ginza is one of the wealthiest town in Japan.
The name “Ginza” is even a kind of brand name for Japanese
people. This area is also famous for numerous number of fine art
galleries in the vicinity of Shukado.

Please feel free to visit our gallery in Ginza when you get the chance
to come to Tokyo.

WE WELCOME YOU!!

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Shukado map:
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/aboutus.htm#map

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In this newsletter, I would like to talk about Byobu screen.

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Sukado Byobu collection: http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list/38/

If you don't know what Byobu is, please check it out!!
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Many foreign customers have visited us and asked to purchase "BYOBU".
So, most of our Byobu items are usually sold abroad.
I don't know exactly why they always ask us the same thing“I would like
to display Byobu on the wall!! ”

We, Japanese never display Byobu on the wall in the house.
In fact, I never see Byobu on the wall in Japanese houses. I of course know
we show Byobu on the wall of museums or international Art Fair for
international customers.

However when I see photos of displaying Byobu on the wall sent to
us by foreign custmers, I am so excited. It is a PRECIOUS thing to
see a spectacular wall decorated with Byobu in western houses.

Photos from our custmer →　http://www.syukado.jp/jp/voice/index.html

Byobu is a screen which consists of panels connected by paper hinges.
You can fold them as you like and they are light to carry; therefore,
they have been frequently used compared to before.

Some screens have 8 panels while some are not created as a pair.
The most popular byobu screens are “Ryokkyoku-Issou", a pair of
six-panel-screens. Most of the Byobu screens were created as a
pair of six-panel-screens. Each screen panel is counted "Sen" in
specialized terminology.

In the early ages, Byobu screens were used as a wind-wall to prevent
wind or cold air from coming into the room. They were sometimes
used as a divider as well. They used to be very practical items.

Byobu screens were used for various purposes. For example,
“Shira-e Byobu” which was painted with white pigments was used at
the time of baby delivery.The color white was considered very
auspicious so it was used for such an occasion.

"Sakasa Byobu" is used displayed Byobu upside down at someonen's death bed.

"Byobu for Summer" Some Byobu screens were designed particular for
summer season. They have bamboo blind in the middle of the panels so
that the air can pass through them. Summer flowers, plants and water
streams were depicted on such screens as well in order to make
viewers feel a bit of coolness.

In Gion, Kyoto, the custom “Byobu matsuri” where owners of stores
display their byobu screens has been a long tradition. It is said,
an owner of a store displayed a lot of byobu screens in order to
hide messy rooms from guests at the time of the festival. This is
very similar to how we put things into a storage space or we try to
hide them with a big cloth when unexpected guests visit us.

Byobu screens used to be very practical items for our daily life.
They have become more decorative in the later years since people have began
to think that they look better with beautiful paintings.

When did we start to display them at the art exhibitions or at museums?
I think that it began in the Meiji era.

There are two reasons for this. First, the new place “exhibitions”
where fine arts including byobu are displayed to show to the public
became prevalent from the Meiji era.

From the Meiji era, Japan tried to introduce Byobu to Western cultures
including exhibitions. Until the Meiji era, there was no such a
place or an occasion to display and appreciate fine arts in Japan.
Between the end of Meiji era and the Taisho era, it was very
popular to show big pieces. As big screen media, artists could
create paintings with a big visual impact. Byobu screens were often
used by artists. A pair of six panel screens (each panel is sized
approximately one tatami mat (1.82ｍ×0.91ｍ)) must have given big
impact on viewers.

Second reason is the change of people's lifestyle. Until the Edo
era, byobu screens were used in the houses of every walk of people
in Japan including nobles, samurais, merchants, etc.

However, after the Meiji era, people's life became westernized and
traditional Japanese rooms with tatami mats and alcoves gradually
disappeared.

Therefore, Byobu screens which were used with practical daily life
items became art media to be displayed at the art exhibitions. Of
course, some people still use Byobu for their practical use but
main use of Byobu changed in the Meiji era.

If you have a chance to see Byobu screens, please take your time to
imagine how they were used in old times.

Thank you for reading our news letter until the end and we will get
back to you soon!

Oh, WAIT WAIT! I must to tell you about our recomended Byobu.

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Recomend Byobu item : http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/107007350/

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We are going to display this Byobu screen at the autumn exhibition
held by the Tokyo Bijyutu Club.

*Tokyo Bijyutu Club (Tokyo Art Club) is dealers association which is
highly recognized all over Japan as well as overseas.
Shukado has a membership with this association.

If you plan to visit Japan in October, please come and visit
us in Ginza and come to our exbition!
We are looking forward to seeing you there.

We hope you are enjoying the end of your summer in your town!!

Big hello to you from all of us at Shukado.

Ikuko Kuwata-Kelly